The structure of carbohydrate chains of riboflavin-binding glycoprotein from chicken egg protein. III. 1H-NMR spectroscopy (500 MHz) of neutral fucosylated oligosaccharides

Using LiBH4/ButOH treatment, oligosaccharides were cleaved off the hen egg white riboflavin-binding glycoprotein. HPLC led to the isolation of four fucose-containing oligosaccharide alditols, whose structure was elucidated by means of 1H NMR 500 MHz spectroscopy. The main fucosylated oligosaccharide, also present in hen ovomucoid, was found to be a biantennary carbohydrate chain of N-acetyllactosamine type.     

Structure of the carbohydrate chain of riboflavin-binding glycoprotein from hen egg white. Neutral oligosaccharides of the hybrid type

Reductive cleavage of the riboflavin-binding glycoprotein from hen egg white with LiBH4/tert-BuOH followed by NaBH4 treatment gave rise to oligosaccharide alditols. After fractionation by HPLC two individual oligosaccharide alditols of a hybrid type were isolated. Their structures were proved by 1H NMR 500 MHz spectroscopy and methylation analysis. One of the oligosaccharides has earlier been found in ovalbumin, whereas the other is identified in glycoproteins for the first time.     

Fractionation of chicken egg glycoproteins and their purification using preparative HPLC

A new method of fractionation of hen egg glycoproteins has been developed. The procedure involves high-speed mass ion-exchange chromatography on ZetaPrep cartridges, differential precipitation, and ultrafiltration on "Minitan" tangential-flow system. Six fractions were obtained from egg white (ovomucin, avidin, riboflavin-binding glycoprotein RF-GPw, ovoinhibitor, ovalbumin-ovotransferrin, and ovomucoid fractions), and two fractions from egg yolk (riboflavin-binding glycoprotein RF-GPy and phosvitin fractions). Using ion-exchange HPLC on columns (150 X 21.5 mm) Protein PAK DEAE-5PW and SP-5PW, six homogenous glycoproteins (avidin, RF-GPw, ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, ovomucoid, and RF-GPy) were isolated in preparative quantities (0.1-1 g). Ion-exchange HPLC also resolves some glycoproteins' isoforms with different pI values.     

Isolation and characteristics of carbohydrate chains of riboflavin-binding glycoprotein from the chicken egg

Isolation and characterization of oligosaccharides of riboflavin binding glycoprotein from hen white is described. Reductive cleavage of the N-glycosylamide carbohydrate-peptide bond with LiBH4/tert-BuOH followed by NaBH4-NaOH treatment gave rise to alditols, which were fractionated by means of HPLC. Twelve alditols were isolated in quantities sufficient for the monosaccharide analysis. Possibility of an ovomucoid-type oligosaccharide structure for all the alditols is discussed.     

Synthesis of N-glycoproteins with a native type of carbohydrate-peptide bond

Reaction of beta-oligoglycosylamines obtained from carbohydrate chains of N-glycoproteins (ovalbumin, ovomucoid, riboflavin-binding glycoprotein from hen egg white, and asialofetuin) with bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, and poly(L-Asp) in presence of water-soluble carbodiimide gave rise to a series of glycoconjugates, modelling natural N-glycoproteins. Carbohydrate-peptide bond was shown to be of N-glycosylamide type with participation of Asp and Glu residues. The method allows one to obtain synthetic N-glycoproteins from oligomannoside, complex and hybrid oligosaccharide chains, and may find application both in biochemistry and biotechnology for improvement of physico-chemical properties of unglycosylated proteins.     

Structural determination of the oligosaccharide side chains from a glycoprotein isolated from the mucus of the coral Acropora formosa

An extracellular mucous glycoprotein has been isolated from the hard coral Acropora formosa. The glycoprotein contains sulfated oligosaccharide side chains attached through O-glycosidic linkages to serine and threonine, the principal amino acids (77%) in the polypeptide. The oligosaccharide side chains consist of D-arabinose, D-mannose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine with smaller amounts of D-galactose, L-fucose, and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, but no sialic or uronic acids. Alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage resulted in a mixture of oligosaccharide alditols. Six oligosaccharides were purified by high performance liquid chromatography. The structures of these oligosaccharides, which do not resemble those of any other glycoprotein so far examined, were determined by a combination of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of methylation products and NMR spectroscopy. All oligosaccharides contain a reducing terminal mannitol residue with N-acetylglucosamine linked to carbon 2, 4, or 6 of the mannitol. There is no evidence for linkage of N-acetylglucosamine to any other glycoses in the glycoprotein. Galactose was detected in two oligosaccharides linked to the 4-position of mannitol. Arabinose (Ara) was found in only one oligosaccharide. This was probably due to hydrolysis of the labile arabino-furanoside linkages. Evidence is presented which indicates the arabinose occurs primarily at the terminal position of oligosaccharide side chains. The structures of the oligosaccharides isolated from the glycoprotein were: (Formula: see text).     

Purification and further characterization of a glycoprotein from the skin mucus of Japanese eels

A glycoprotein (EGP) was purified from the skin mucus of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica . Apparent average molecular mass of the EGP was estimated to be 500 000. The EGP was found to contain 30·8% NeuAc, 26·4% GalNAc, 6·4% Gal, 0·4% NeuGc and 25·1% Thr‐rich protein. EGP was treated with alkaline borohydride for the release of carbohydrate chains (oligosaccharide alditols). Three carbohydrate chains were isolated from the released carbohydrate chains by Sephadex G‐25 (superfine) gel filtration and HPLC. Using ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis and glycosidase digestion, the structures of the three carbohydrate chains were determined to be NeuAcα2→6GalNAc‐ ol , NeuAcα2→3GalNAc‐ ol and NeuAcα2→6(GalNAcα1→3)GalNAc‐ ol . An overall structure for the sialoglycoprotein from the skin mucus is proposed: the molecule is considered to consist of highly glycosylated 10 glycopeptide units (containing >40 carbohydrate chains) that are linked to the hydroxyl amino acids and spaced on average two amino acids apart.     

Effect of the threonine analog beta-hydroxynorvaline on the glycosylation and secretion of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein by rat hepatocytes

The threonine analog beta-hydroxynorvaline (Hnv) is an inhibitor of asparagine-linked glycosylation. In the presence of the analog hepatocytes synthesized immunoreactive alpha 1-acid glycoprotein with 0-6 oligosaccharide chains. Pulse-chase experiments were conducted to compare the rates of secretion of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein from untreated, tunicamycin-treated, and Hnv-treated cells. Partially glycosylated (1-5 oligosaccharide chains) and unglycosylated (tunicamycin-inhibited) molecules exited the cells more slowly than native alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. In addition, secretion of fully glycosylated (6 oligosaccharide chains) alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was retarded in Hnv-treated cells when compared to controls. The slowest rate of secretion was exhibited by the unglycosylated form from Hnv-treated cells. These results suggest that Hnv-induced changes either in the extent of glycosylation or in the peptide sequence of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein can interfere with its transport through the cell. The major intracellular forms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein from control and Hnv-treated cells were endoglycosidase H-sensitive and contained Man9-8 GlcNAc2 oligosaccharide structures. The oligosaccharide chains on the secreted molecules from control and Hnv-treated cells were entirely of the endoglycosidase H-resistant, complex type.     

The structure of sugar chains of Japanese quail ovomucoid. The occurrence of oligosaccharides not expected from the classical biosynthetic pathway for N-glycans; a method for the assessment of the structure of glycans present in picomolar amounts

While the structure of the major oligosaccharide of Japanese quail ovomucoid was reported earlier (Hase, S. et al. (1982) J. Biochem. 91, 735-737), the structures of the minor oligosaccharide units were investigated for the first time in the present studies. For this purpose, the glycans of the protein were liberated from the polypeptide chain by hydrazinolysis. After N-acetylation, the reducing ends of the oligosaccharides obtained were coupled with 2-aminopyridine, and then the resulting fluorescent derivatives were purified by Bio-Gel P-2 column chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC. The chemical structures of two minor oligosaccharide units were determined with the aid of exoglycosidases, and by methylation analysis and Smith degradation. The results demonstrated that the ovomucoid contains the following two monoantennary glycans: Man alpha 1-6(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc and Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc. The latter structure was not predicted by the classical metabolic pathway for the N-glycans to be formed. The structures of three additional minor heterosaccharides were deduced from their elution positions on HPLC together with the results of determination of their molecular sizes and the HPLC elution positions of their enzymatic degradation products. It is noteworthy that for the latter procedure for the estimation of the structures of oligosaccharides only minute quantities of glycans (several hundreds pmol) are required.     

Oligosaccharide structures of mucins secreted by the human colonic cancer cell line CL.16E.

Cl.16E, a stably differentiated clonal derivative of the human colonic cancer cell line HT29, was used to investigate the structure of oligosaccharide chains of mucins in colonic cancer. Secretory mucins were purified by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation in CsCl. Oligosaccharide side chains were isolated after beta-elimination. Compositional analysis of oligosaccharide-alditols performed after purification by gel filtration on a Bio-gel P-6 column showed 1) that GalNAc residues were located exclusively at the reducing ends of the chains, and 2) that fucose was absent from the preparation. Oligosaccharide-alditols were separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on quaternary amine packings into a minor neutral fraction representing about 6.5% by weight of released oligosaccharides and four acidic fractions. Two acidic fractions, namely FI and FII encompassing mono- and disialylated structures, respectively, and containing 78% of total oligosaccharide alditols, were separated by HPLC. Structural determinations were carried out using methylation analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry. Twelve oligosaccharide structures were determined which ranged in size from 3 to 8 residues. These oligosaccharides were based on core types 1, 2, and 4. Elongation of oligosaccharide chains was terminated by addition of sialic acid in alpha 2-3 linkage to Gal beta 1-3R and to Gal beta 1-4R residues. The predominant structure was a hexasaccharide (fraction FII-4). This contrasts with normal colonic mucins whose oligosaccharides were previously found to be based on core 3 structures and carry sialic acids in alpha (2-6) linkage to Gal beta 1-3R, to Gal beta 1-4R, and to GalNAc alpha-R (Podolsky, D.K. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 8262-8271; Podolsky, D.K. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15510-15515). Collectively our findings suggest that Cl.16E colon cancer cells are able to synthesize mucin oligosaccharides of gastric type whose elongation is truncated by premature sialylation.     

The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides at individual glycosylation sites in human thyrotrophin.

The asparagine-linked carbohydrate structures at each of the three glycosylation sites of human thyrotrophin were investigated by 400 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Highly purified, biologically active human thyrotrophin (hTSH) was dissociated into its subunits hTSH alpha (glycosylated at Asn 52 and Asn 78) and hTSH beta (glycosylated at Asn 23). The alpha-subunit was further treated with trypsin which gave two glycopeptides that were subsequently separated by reverse-phase HPLC and identified by amino acid sequence analysis. The oligosaccharides were liberated from hTSH alpha glycopeptides and from intact hTSH beta by hydrazinolysis, and were fractionated as alditols by anion-exchange and ion-suppression amine-adsorption HPLC preparatory to structural analysis. The N-glycans present on hTSH were mainly diantennary complex-type structures with a common Man alpha 1-3 branch that terminated with 4-O-sulphated GalNAc. The Man alpha 1-6 branch displayed structural heterogeneity in the terminal sequence, with chiefly alpha 2-3-sialylated Gal and/or 4-O-sulphated GalNAc. The relative amounts of the two major complete diantennary oligosaccharides and their core fucosylation differed according to glycosylation site; the sulphated/sialylated diantennary oligosaccharide was most abundant at the two sites on the alpha-subunit, whereas the disulphated, core-fucosylated oligosaccharide was more plentiful on the beta-subunit. Some interesting structural features, not previously reported for the N-glycans of hTSH, included 3-O-sulphated galactose (SO4-3Gal) and peripheral fucose (Fuc alpha 1-3GlcNAc) in the Man alpha 1-6 branch of some diantennary structures; the former suggests the presence of a hitherto uncharacterized galactose-3-O-sulphotransferase in thyrotroph cells of the human anterior pituitary gland.     

Maturation of the envelope glycoproteins of Newcastle disease virus on cellular membranes.

Based on subcellular fractionation data, the following maturation pathways were proposed for the Newcastle disease virus glycoproteins. During or shortly after synthesis in rough endoplasmic reticulum, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F0) glycoproteins underwent dolichol pyrophosphate-mediated glycosylation, and HN assumed a partially trypsin-resistant conformation. HN began to associate into disulfide-linked dimers in rough endoplasmic reticulum, and at least one of its oligosaccharide side chains was processed to a complex form en route to the cell surface. During migration in intracellular membranes, F0 was proteolytically cleaved to F1.2. Neither HN nor F1,2 required oligosaccharide side chains for migration to plasma membranes, and cleavage of F0 also occurred without glycosylation. Virion- and plasma membrane-associated HN contained both complex and high-mannose oligosaccharide chains on the same molecule, and F1,2 contained at least high-mannose forms. Several of the properties of HN were notable for a viral glycoprotein. The oligosaccharide side chains of HN were modified very slowly in chick cells, whereas those of the G glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus were rapidly processed to a complex form. Therefore, their different rates of migration and carbohydrate processing were intrinsic properties of these glycoproteins. Consistent with its slow maturation, the HN glycopolypeptide accumulated to high levels in intracellular membranes as well as in plasma membranes. Intracellular HN contained immature oligosaccharide side chains, suggesting that it accumulated in the pre-Golgi/Golgi segment of the maturation pathway. The major site of accumulation of mature HN with neuraminidase activity was the plasma membrane.     

Evidence for uniformity of the carbohydrate chains in individual glycoprotein molecular variants

Pooled and alkylated α₁-acid glycoprotein was fractionated on a Con A-Sepharose column into two fractions : Con A-non reactive and Con A-reactive. The carbohydrate moiety from the α₁-acid glycoprotein Con A-reactive variant, obtained by hydrazinolysis and quantitative re-N-acetylation, contains only identical two-branched oligosaccharide chains. From the present work on α₁-acid glycoprotein and from previous studies on α₁-fetoprotein, one can assume that glycoprotein glycosylation occurs uniformly along each polypeptide chain giving it identical oligosaccharide units at each glycosylation site.     

Structural study of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide moiety of taste-modifying protein, miraculin

The structures of the N-linked oligosaccharides of miraculin, which is a taste modifying glycoprotein isolated from miracle fruits, berries of Richadella dulcifica, are reported. Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides were released from the protein by glycopeptidase (almond) digestion. The reducing ends of the oligosaccharide chains thus obtained were aminated with a fluorescent reagent, 2-aminopyridine, and the mixture of pyridylamino derivatives of the oligosaccharides was separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an ODS-silica column. More than five kinds of oligosaccharide fractions were separated by the one chromatographic run. The structure of each oligosaccharide thus isolated was analyzed by a combination of sequential exoglycosidase digestion and another kind of HPLC with an amidesilica column. Furthermore, high resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) measurements were carried out. It was found that 1) five oligosaccharides obtained are a series of compounds with xylose-containing common structural core, Xyl beta 1----2 (Man alpha 1----6) Man beta 1----4-GlcNAc beta 1----4 (Fuca1----3)GlcNAc, 2) a variety of oligosaccharide structures are significant for two glycosylation sites, Asn-42 and Asn-186, and 3) two new oligosaccharides, B and D, with unusual structures containing monoantennary complex-type were characterized. (formula; see text)     

Occurrence of alpha 1-2-fucosylation in membrane glycoproteins of Morris hepatoma 7777 but not in liver. Aberrant type of fucosylation in a malignant tissue.

A comparative study was undertaken to characterize the linkages of L-fucose in N-glycans of plasma membrane glycoproteins from Morris hepatoma 7777, host liver and kidney cortex, as well as from rat serum. After in-vivo radiolabelling of rats with L-[6-3H]fucose, the asparagine-linked carbohydrate chains were released from delipidated plasma membrane glycoproteins, as well as from serum glycoproteins, by enzymic digestion with peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum. They were then converted to their corresponding oligosaccharide alditols by reduction with sodium borohydride. Two specific alpha-L-fucosidases from almond emulsin and from Aspergillus niger, combined with affinity HPLC on immobilized Aleuria aurantia lectin were used to study the linkage of L-fucose in the oligosaccharide chains. Fucose alpha 1-2 linked to galactose, was present only in the plasma membrane of hepatoma 7777 (18% of total L-[3H]fucose in N-glycans), but was not expressed in host liver, kidney cortex and serum. None of the investigated sources contained an appreciable amount of fucose alpha 1-3/4 linked to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. All the radioactively labelled oligosaccharides from host liver, kidney cortex and serum, but only 82% of these oligosaccharides from hepatoma, contained alpha-fucosyl residues linked at the C6 position of the proximal N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.     

Hepatocyte specific long lasting inhibition of protein N-glycosylation by D-galactosamine

The effect of D-galactosamine on protein N-glycosylation was studied in rat hepatocyte primary cultures for alpha 1-antitrypsin (three complex type oligosaccharide chains) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (six complex type oligosaccharide chains). D-Galactosamine at a concentration of 4 mM inhibited partially de novo N-glycosylation leading to the formation of alpha 1-antitrypsin lacking one to two and of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein lacking one to five of its carbohydrate side chains. In addition D-galactosamine interfered with oligosaccharide processing, leading to the formation of some carbohydrate side chains remaining in an endoglucosaminidase H sensitive, i.e., not completely processed, form. D-Galactosamine impaired the secretion of alpha 1-antitrypsin and of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein but did not inhibit the secretion of the unglycosylated albumin. The inhibitory effect of D-galactosamine on de novo glycosylation as well as on oligosaccharide processing lasted for at least 24 h after it had been removed from the cells. D-Galactosamine impaired the glycosylation of alpha 1-antitrypsin only in hepatocytes, but not in human monocytes. Furthermore, D-galactosamine did not impair the N- and O-glycosylation of interleukin-6 in human monocytes and in MRC 5 fibroblasts. The results indicate that the effect of D-galactosamine on protein glycosylation is restricted to D-galactosamine metabolizing hepatocytes and is not exerted by the drug itself but by its metabolites.     

Avian egg's white ovomucoid as food-allergen for human

Hen eggs are considered as the most common reason of a food allergy in humans. The most important allergens of egg white proteins are as follows: ovomucoid, lysozyme, ovalbumin and ovomucin. Ovomucoid is a Kazal-type protease inhibitor which accounts for about 10% of avian egg white protein. It is a glycoprotein containing 20 through 25% carbohydrates. The molecule of ovomucoid is composed of three homologous domains. All avian ovomucoid domains contain six cysteines in similar location that form three intradomain disulfide bonds. Ovomucoid (Gal d1) is one of the major allergen in hen's egg. It is a glycoprotein comprising 186 amino acids, and it has a molecular weight of 28000 Da and an isoelectric point of 4.1. Ovomucoid has antibacterial activity resulting from its ability to inhibit bacterial proteolytic enzymes crucial for microbial growth. Many studies reveal that ovomucoid is a thermo stable molecule.     

Effects of Inhibitors of Oligosaccharide Processing on P0Protein Synthesis and Incorporation into PNS Myelin

Four inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing were used to investigate their effects on the transport of PNS myelin glycoproteins through the secretory pathway, as well as to gain further insight into the structure of the oligosaccharide chains of the P0 and 19-kDa glycoproteins. Several different inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing were incubated with chopped peripheral nerves from young rats (21-24 days of age) and the uptake of 14C-amino acid and [3H]fucose or [3H]mannose was measured in P0 and the 19-kDa glycoprotein after separation of homogenate and myelin proteins on polyacrylamide gels. [3H]Mannose was not found as suitable as [3H]fucose as an oligosaccharide precursor because glucose used as an energy source profoundly inhibited the uptake of [3H]mannose. The substitution of pyruvate as an energy source, however, resulted in incomplete glycosylation, poor amino acid uptake, and truncated oligosaccharide chains. Endoglycosidase H cleaved approximately 50% of the P0 labeled with [3H]fucose and 14C-amino acid. The lower molecular weight protein resulting from endoglycosidase H cleavage contained approximately one-half the [3H]fucose label on the protein, whereas one-half remained on the oligosaccharide chain of the undegraded P0, indicating that at least one-half the P0 has a hybrid structure. Deoxynojirimycin, deoxymannojirimycin, and castanospermine inhibited incorporation of [3H]fucose into the oligosaccharide chains of P0 and the 19-kDa glycoprotein as predicted from their action in blocking various stages of trimming of high mannose structures before the addition of fucose. P0 synthesized in the presence of these inhibitors was cleaved to a greater extent by endoglycosidase H than the normal protein, indicating increased vulnerability to this enzyme with arrest of normal processing. Similar results were obtained for the 19-kDa glycoprotein. Both the incompletely processed P0 and the 19-kDa glycoprotein formed in the presence of these inhibitors appeared to be transported normally into myelin.     

Turtle-dove ovomucoid, a glycoprotein proteinase inhibitor with P1-blood-group antigen activity.

Ovomucoid from the egg white of turtle-dove (Streptopelia risoria) was purified and shown to be a glycoprotein of mol. wt. 29 400, with valine as N-terminal residue. It is an inhibitor of both trypsin and chymotrypsin, but has a lower affinity for trypsin than has hen ovomucoid. Turtle-dove ovomucoid contains antigenic activity cross-reacting with the blood-group-P1 antigen of human erythrocytes. Hen ovomucoid has no detectable blood group-P1 activity. The carbohydrate composition of turtle-dove ovomucoid differs from hen ovomucoid in having substantially higher galactose content. The possible relationship between carbohydrate composition and antigenic activity is discussed.     

Structural characterization of novel complex oligosaccharides accumulated in the caprine beta-mannosidosis kidney. Occurrence of tetra- and pentasaccharides containing a beta-linked mannose residue at the nonreducing terminus

Four oligosaccharide fractions were isolated and purified from the kidney of goats affected with beta-mannosidosis by repeating Bio-Gel P-2 column chromatography. The structural characterization of the purified oligosaccharide fractions (oligosaccharides A, B, C1,2, and D) included sugar composition analysis by gas chromatography, sugar sequence analysis by mass spectrometry of their permethylated alditols, and by methylation analysis as well as anomeric configuration studies by exoglycosidase digestions. Oligosaccharides A and B were the major oligosaccharides accumulating in the kidney and were elucidated as Man beta 1-4GlcNAc and Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc, respectively (Matsuura, F., Laine, R. A., and Jones, M. Z. (1981) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 211, 485-493). Oligosaccharide C1,2 was a mixture of two tetrasaccharides and oligosaccharide D was a pentasaccharide. The proposed structures are: oligosaccharide C1, Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4Man beta 1-4GlcNAc; oligosaccharide C2, Man alpha 1-6Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc; oligosaccharide D, Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc. Tetrasaccharide C1 and pentasaccharide D are heretofore undiscovered oligosaccharides. There is no precedent for these structures in glycoproteins or other glycoconjugates. One possibility which accounts for the presence of oligosaccharide C1 and D is that a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (the beta-N-acetylglucosamine residue linked at the C-4 position of the beta-mannosyl residue of the trimannosyl core of the asparagine-linked sugar chains) is linked by a beta-mannosyl residue. Moreover, the detection of oligosaccharides containing two N-acetylglucosamine residues at the reducing terminus, together with those containing a single N-acetylglucosamine residue, is further corroboration of species-specific differences in glycoprotein catabolic pathways (Hancock, L. W., and Dawson, G. (1984) Fed. Proc. 43, 1552) or in glycoprotein structures.